Gigantic MiceChat 10 Year Anniversary Weekend, February 6th, 7th, 8th

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have gone by so quickly. So many things have happened in that time. So many friendships, and events, and Disney news stories. Today, there are nearly 100,000 registered MiceChatters, but we are still very much the little site of Disney nerds who just want things to be the best they can be.

To celebrate our first fabulous decade together, we’ve crafted an AMAZING weekend of fun at the Disneyland Resort just for you. Below you’ll find a collection of events, some require tickets, others don’t. Join us for as much or as little as you’d like.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH

We held an amazing evening with a select group of animation superstars in a casual and fun MiceChat 10th Anniversary cocktail party at the lovely Anabella Hotel. The panel discussion featured Disney legends Floyd Norman, Little Mermaid animator Mike Peraza, Lion King animator James Lopez, Bugs Life animator Dave Feiten, and moderator David Derks (International Animated Film Association Vice President).

SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 7TH

Saturday morning you can also celebrate MiceChat’s 10 years of Disney and theme park magic with our special AMAZEMENT Saturday epic event at the ESPN Zone.

Celebrate MiceChat’s 10 years of Disney and theme park magic with our special AMAZEMENT Saturday epic event at the ESPN Zone. We will treat you with three fantastic panel discussions with notable legends and surprise guests. Event lasts from 9am until 1:30pm:

“This Animatronic Life” – This panel will explore the history of animatronics from the days of the ancient Greeks to today’s most cutting-edge figures, and take a look at Garner Holt Productions’ background in the themed entertainment industry. You’ll hear from the designers, animators, programmers, project leaders, and maintenance experts on what it takes to create dimensional animation and other show systems for theme parks around the world. Meet Garner Holt, Bill Butler, Tracy Cathey, Vic Martin and Dave Feiten as they tell us you how they create the magic!

“Authors and Artists” – Meet the folks behind some of the hottest new Disney books. You’ll have a chance to pick up your own signed copy of these fantastic tomes and pick up some treasures as well. Some of the folks you can expect to find: Sam Gennawey (Disney and Universal history books), Shelby Picket (Disney trivia books), Terri Hardin (former Imagineer), Jeff Heimbuch (Windows of Main Street), Joseph Yakovetic (Disney Artist).

“Voices of Magic” – The voices behind some of your favorite Disney characters will reveal the secrets behind bringing the magic to stage and screen. See Bill Farmer (the voice of Goofy), Micheal-Leon Wooley (from Princess and the Frog), Mark Silverman (Twilight Zone Tower of Terror), Nancy Adams (Robin Hood) and others.

We will also celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Yesterland with MiceChat legend Werner Weiss and enjoy a very special MiceChat 10th anniversary video treat.

This enchanted morning will last from 9am until 1:30pm and will include a light breakfast of fresh fruit and assorted bagels as well as a delightful lunch of apple walnut salad, truffle mac and cheese with broccoli, and a delicious grilled beef tri tip with mashed potatoes and assorted desserts. Twelve lucky attendees can upgrade to the “VIP Package”, which offers VIP front row seating as well as a keepsake gift signed by our special guests. This event is now sold out!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 7TH 3:30pm

MiceChat celebrates the upcoming D23 Expo 2015 with a D23 Expo Challenge during the MiceChat 10th Anniversary. The D23 Expo showcases the past, present and future of all things Disney, from theme parks and movies to television, music and beyond.

This event is FREE (you’ll still need a park ticket). THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT

Although the events above are all sold out, there’s still a lot of wonderful things you can still join:

MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE

Aside from the ticketed events, we will also be offering lots of other fun activities on anniversary weekend. Join us on Saturday evening for a trivia contest with funtastic prizes. Then on Sunday morning (Feb 8th) we’ll have breakfast at the Riverbelle Terrace, followed by Walt Disney inspired attractions, a massive noon meet at the central hub of Disneyland, and a group photo in front of the Train Station (Let’s make this one the biggest ever!)

The first 400 people to the Noon meet at Disneyland on Sunday Feb 8th receive an exclusive MiceChat Tencennial enamel pin (designed by Andy Castro and donated by Dustysage) which is inspired by Disneyland’s own 10th anniversary in 1965.

Saturday Feb 7, 6pm – Trivia Night at the Hearthstone

(Outside – back patio of Hearthstone Lounge at the Grand Californian Hotel)

Meet us on the outdoor back patio of the Hearthstone Lounge at the Grand Californian Hotel near the fireplace. The trivia show has become a MiceChat anniversary tradition. And what excuse do we need to have a good time and win prizes? The show lasts for about an hour and prizes will be given throughout. Prizes for the top placing individuals are sponsored by Fairy Godmother Travel, MiceChat’s official travel agency.You do not need a ticket for this event. Just show up and have a great time!

Sunday, February 8th, 2015

The day will start in the classic style, as we’ve done for the last 10 anniversaries, with breakfast at the Riverbelle Terrace, trip around the Rivers of America aboard the Mark Twain, and a classic noon meet and group photo in front of the castle (we’ll meet you all at the Walt and Mickey statue at noon).

9:00 am – Riverbelle Terrace Breakfast

Riverbelle terrace is the traditional start for our big Anniversary weekend events. Join us as the tradition continues. Meet with friends old and new and start your day off the good old fashioned way . . . riverside with Mickey shaped pancakes.

10:00 am – Disneyland by River (meet at the Riverbelle Terrace patio)

We generally begin our anniversary with a grand circle tour aboard the Disneyland Railroad. But this year, it’s under refurbishment walls. So, meet us at the Riverbell Terrace, where we are having breakfast, and we’ll all head down to the river together to take a ride on the Mark Twain. From the river, we’ll head into Adventureland to sing like the birdies sing in Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and perhaps another diversion before the big noon meet.

12:00 pm – Noon Hub Meet

The Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse Partners Statue in the central hub of Disneyland (the round park in front of the Castle) has been host to hundreds of MiceAge/MiceChat meets over the years. Its classic location and sentimental statue make it the ultimate location for us to give thanks to the man who started it all, Walt Disney. Meet and greet with your friends, make new friends, and you might just win our grand prize 2 night Anabella Hotel giveaway! Then join us at 12:30 pm for a Group Picture In front of the Main Street Train Station (the castle is under refurbishment). You don’t want to miss out on this special meet! Let’s make this our biggest group photo ever!

1:00 pm – Lunch (Location to be announced)

We’ll have a location for your shortly. Check back soon for more details.

This year, we have a very special program planned for you after lunch. MiceChat is turning 10 years old, Yesterland is turning 20, and Disneyland is turning 60! That’s a lot of memories. Just after lunch we’ll join Werner Weiss of Yesterland and some special guest hosts for a historic tour of Disneyland Park the way Walt would have remembered it. Please note that the Yesterland portion of the afternoon has SOLD OUT. You can join the YESTERLAND TOUR WAIT LIST HERE. It is VERY likely that we will add additional spots to this tour today or tomorrow.

4:10 pm – Farewell Meet and Greet (Central Hub of Disneyland)

Following the Yesterland tour, we invite everyone to join us at the central hub of Disneyland for hugs, thanks and well wishes as we make our way home and dream of the next great MiceChat adventure.

We’ve had several of you asking how you can help with anniversary weekend. There are a few things we need assistance with:

We are looking for great images of MiceAge/MiceChat meets and events from the past 10 years. What were your favorite moments. Please post them below.

Get the word out. Please help share the links to this article so everyone knows about all the great events we are offering for the MiceChat Anniversary. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, email, you name it. . . . just share. If you do, you could win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Make a Donation. This event is very expensive for us to run and we are operating it at a loss to make as much of the weekend as possible free for you to participate. If you know a sponsor who would like to help out, please let us know. To make a direct donation, you may do so via PayPal at Dustysage@MiceChat.comThank you for your support!

We’ll have a printable times guide for the MiceChat 10th anniversary for you shortly. Meanwhile, don’t lose your spot in our amazing special events listed above. Sign up today at the links above. And to add your name to the email list for more event information and times guide, please JOIN THE MAILING LIST HERE.

Click the Facebook Share button above and comment on this article about what MiceChat means to you for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Happy anniversary everyone, we are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Dusty is the founder and CEO of MiceChat.com. When he's not visiting theme parks and writing, editing or speaking about Disney and theme parks worldwide, Dusty stays busy as the Executive Director of both the Walt Disney Birthplace AND the Dick Van Dyke Foundation. He also runs O-Zell Soda (the company originally operated by Walt Disney's father and at which Walt once worked).
If you've got news or photos to share with the MiceChat community, or would like to book Dusty for an upcoming event, please contact dustysage@micechat.com

Way to go, Micechat. Forget the rest, your website is the best! I’ve been reading Micechat for about five years. But I’ve been a citizen at Disneyland since opening day in 1955. I did’t go too often last year. I had a nasty case of skin cancer. I’m on dialysis 11 hours a day. It cramps my style. But I’ll return to DL soon. We’re taking my mother there for her 90th birthday, along with three of her Great-Grandchildren.

Thank you Whamo. 10 years is a big accomplishment for us, but we really want to give back to our readers. This 3 day event is a huge undertaking for us at a great expense. But it will all be worth it to thank the folks, like you, who have supported us for so long.

Sorry to hear about your difficult medical situation, but hope you get to visit the park with your mother.

Cheers and best wishes to you,

Dusty

kowgli

I’d like to thank Micechat for the birthday greetings received yesterday. I have been a loyal reader for the past ten years and enjoy staying up-to-date at the parks. I have been to the meets at the hub a few times but too shy to come up and say hi. Congratulations on the ten year anniversary. I look forward to read about it on Micechat. I plan to visit the parks for the 60th celebrations later this year.

Thank you Gregg, wish you could join us as well. I’ll send you a copy of the video. Cheers and much thanks for the well wishes.

lcasa

Can we park at the Anabella for tonight’s event?

michael darling

Thank you, Dusty. Congratulations to you the creators, and all the contributors of MiceChat. This site is the most informative, fun, well-written and engaging Disney news source in existence. I wouldn’t know a fraction of the updates, changes or history if it weren’t for this site. Your team builds excitement for new things to come, and walks us each step of the way through development to completion. You honor the past, yet get us excited about the future. The photos shared on MiceChat are top quality and are always clearly a labor of love. You’ve spoiled us! And now, invariably when someone tells me they are a “huge Disney fan” but never heard of MiceChat, I think, “mmmm, not so much”.

You are the standard, my friends. Well done. Here’s to the future!

-Michael

Eagleman

HAPPY TENCENNIAL MICECHAT!
Thos who at MiceChat Anniversary events……Have Great Time

and I like to Thank you, Dusty and Congratulations, for 10 years of hard work
long with the Micechat and Miceage crew.

glowman

Today was a very special day for MiceChat and all of us
MiceChaters. The buffet as usual was right on top with plenty to go around and a ESPN staff that was top of the line with seeing that everything was perfect. The monitors scattered around the large room made all of us feel like we had front row seats. The panels were excellent and most informative. Dusty, you and your crew did a super job handling the check-in and seeing that everything was running smoothly. The panelists were perfect and most informative and entertaining for all of us to enjoy. Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary Celebration. I know we are all looking forward to Sunday’s continualtion of this memorable event.

It was wonderful to see you. Thank you so much for the kind words. This was certainly one of our most ambitious events and a fitting tribute to our Tencennial.

Looking forward to the next 10 years and hope you’ll continue to be an important part of our community!

JiminyCricketFan

Thanks so much for a wonderful Tencennial Micechat anniversary. You did a great job of putting everything together! Dusty you did a wonderful job pulling all the elements together. I particularly enjoyed Saturday morning. You did a great job selecting the panels and making it a fun and memorial event.